Who are the Sumerians? Among the earliest civilizations, there was a diverse group of people in the fertile valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates valley called the Mesopotamia. These were known as the Sumerians. The Sumerian civilization has left us with an enduring portrait of their society, philosophy, government, religion, and daily life. Summer was located in the Mesopotamia. Early settlements included Uruk, Ur, and Eridu. They all started as independent cities and then became city-states. The land was rich, but was hard in the summer time. In spring, the rivers would flood and irrigate the fields. The riverbed was unstable and would flood at unexpected times. The river would carry silt down stream, which would help fertilize the land
